Tube socket



July 31, 1956 F. R. ERBAL 2,757,349

TUBE SOCKET Filed April 29, 1954 FRANK R ERBAL Wh aq United StatesPatent TUBE SOCKET Frank R. Erbal, Kensington, Md., assignor to A. C. F.Industries, Incorporated, a corporation of New Jersey Application April29, 1954, Serial No. 426,478 '11 Claims. (Cl. 339-64) This inventionrelates to connectors, particularly sockets for thermionic or othertubes and devices having a number of mounting pins.

To compensate for misalignment of the tube pins, it is a presentpractice to fasten tube pin contacts in a tube socket in such a mannerthat the contacts may float some-- what, or evenfloat completely freelywithin structural limits. The result is that anything, such as a wire,connected to the contact must move with it and in some instances this isobjectionable because the degree of freedom of the contacts depends onthe unpredictable amount of motion allowed by the objects to which theyare fastened. Moreover, it is sometimes desirable to secure the tubesocket contact to an immovable object which renders that contactimmobile. An example of such a circumstance is found in connecting atube socket contact directly to processed circuitry as an etched circuitpanel or a printed circuit panel. An object of this invention is'toprovide an improved tube socket with pin contacts which are anchored ator near one end to parts of the tube socket body, and having twistedsections and/ or oifsets in their soldering tabs to form intersectingbending axis regions in the tab, whereby the tube pin receiving andgripping portion of the contact is capable ofrocking motion in alldirections approximately in one plane while the anchored (usuallysoldered) end remains stationary. Inaddition, the described arrangementof twisted sections and offsets in the contact tabs allows the tube pinreceiving portion of the contact to be axially displaced withoutdisturbing the fixed end of the tab inasmuch as the twisted sections andoifsets yield a limited amount in the nature of a coil spring.Accordingly, ample motion of the pin receiving portion is provided foreven with the lower end of the contact fixed, so that the lower end ofthe contact passage may be sealed to exclude dirt from the passage.Also, with the contact fixed to the tube socket, a source of possiblenoise is obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide simplified and elfectivemeans for connecting a tube pin contact to a processed circuit patternon the socket and at the same time fixing the contact to the tube socketbase. This is accomplished preferably, but not exclusively, by forming asolder well for each contact in the lower surface of the tube socketandin communication with the contact accommodating passage, forming thecircuit pattern partly in the well, and at least partially filling thewell with solder so that it adheres to the circuit pattern and part ofthe tab in or near the well and the walls of the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube socket which maybe mounted either upon a processed circuit panel and electrically aswell as mechanically connected thereto, or mounted by its flanges, thesocket being complete in itself and having a processed circuit on itsbottom surface connected with the contacts of the socket. By having acircuit pattern directly upon the bottom of the tube socket, manyadvantages are realized. The contacts need not extend beyond thelowersurface of 2,757,349 Patented July 31, 1956 the tube body so thatthe usual contact and wire crowding, especially around the base of aminiature tube socket, is eliminated. Soldering wires to the contacts inthe usually small, confining space available around a tube socket isavoided, because the contacts are soldered to the processed circuit onthe tube socket before the socket is emplaced in the chassis, on thepanel or other element in assembly.

Difiiculties have been experienced in trying to connect tube contacts toa processed circuit panel, and several solutions have been suggested.The invention makes it possible to avoid the problem entirely, by fixingthe contacts beforehand to a circuit pattern on the tube socket, wherebythat circuit pattern, not subject to the forces generated when tube pinsare inserted or withdrawn from the socket, may be more easily connectedto a processed circuit panel or ordinary wiring. Thus, the pattern onthe tube socket is an intermediate element provided between the tubesocket contacts and external wiring, regardless of the nature of thatwiring. This prevails in instances where the sockets are mounted upon aprocessed circuit panel, in chassis apertures or other ways.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube socket with meansat its upper surface for guidingthe tube pins into the proper pinreceiving passages, the same means forming a fulcrum about which to rockthe tube tofacilitate separation of the tube from the socket.

Other objects and features of importance will become apparent infollowing the description of the illustrated forms of the invention inthe drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tube socket body madein accordance with theinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, tube pincontacts being shown in place.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the tube socket body of Figure 1. p

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modification ofthe invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of another modification, and

Figure 6 is a slightly modified form of the invention.

The invention relates to improvements in tube sockets capable of rapidmanufacture, typical examples 'of which are illustrated. Thesocket body10 is of insulating material, preferably ceramic, and is of monoblocconstruction. Although the embodiments shown accommodate seven pintubes, the principles disclosed herein apply regardless of the number ofpin accommodating passages involved.

There are the-seven passages, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and Z4respectively,and each passage opens through the upper surface 26 and lower surface 28of the socket body 10. It is preferred at the present time to constructeach passage asshown in Figure 2, that is, with a bore 30 and an alignedcounterbore 32. This defines a shoulder 34 which separates the bore andcounterbore, and provides a land or. seat on which a portion of eachtube pin contact may be disposed.

The embodiments of Figures 4 and 6 differ from that of Figure 2 in theshapes of passages. In Figure 6 the bore 36 is separated from thecounterbore 38 by means of a tapered shoulder 40. In Figures 4 and 5 thepassages 42 consist of-a bore 44 aligned with a counterbore 46 and aslot 48. The counterbore opens through the upper surface of the tubesocket body while the slot 48 opens through thelower surface of thesame. The bore 44 is connected with the slot by the sloping wall section49 which acts as a guide when inserting the tube pin con- 3 center ofthe body 10 to the edge thereof. Rib 51 is of such width that it may bestraddled by the two tube pins that flank the pin void on the bottom ofthe tube. The raised boss and rib serves a dual function in that it alsoforms a fulcrum member on which to rock the tube when separating it fromthe base 10.

Four mounting flanges are integral with the body 10 and form a partthereof, although the usual dual flange construction may be used. Themounting flanges illustrated have notches 52 in the edges thereof toaccommodate solder or semi-rigid conductors. The conductors may be usedto support the tube socket, and are used to establish electrical circuitconnections with the individual contacts in the socket passages.Processed, as printed, circuit paths 53 are formed on the bottom surface28 of the tube socket extending from the passages to the notches 52.Additionally, the central bore 58 which in the prior art normallyaccommodates a rigid electrostatic shield, is the recipient of aprocessed circuit pattern 59, thereby eliminating the necessity ofhandling and fastening a rigid element. Processed circuit path 61 onsurface 28 connects the shield pattern 59 with the wall of one of thenotches 52 for connection to external circuitry.

It is preferred, but not essential, that tubular type pin receiving andgripping contacts be used in the various passages. Therefore, thetubular pin receiving contact 62 has been illustrated. Such a contactconsists of a split sleeve from one end of which extends a soldering tab64. The merit of having the tubular part of the contact 62 arranged tomove laterally is well-known and need not be discussed in detail. Thedifficulty in obtaining freely floating contacts in a system where thesocket is finally connected, has been mentioned. Such difiiculties areobviated by the illustrated arrangement of offsets and twists in thesoldering tabs 64.

Attention is invited to Figures 4 and where the offsets and twists arebest seen. The soldering tab 64 has a substantially right angle ofisetat its junction with the tubular portion and extending in a directiongenerally normal to the contact longitudinal axis. A second offset 68bends in the opposite direction and proceeds from offset 66, extendinggenerally parallel tothc contact axis. Connected to the offset 68 is atwisted section 70, this section having a twist of approximately 90degrees about the longitudinal axis of the contact. By virtue of thisconstruction two regions containing bending axes are established. Thefirst region at and adjacent 74 includes portions of the offsets 66 and68 while the second region 76 is in and at the lower part of the twist70.

Assuming that the lower end of the tab 64 is anchored and assumingfurther that a lateral thrust is applied to the contact 62 in the Xdirection, the tab will bend along the axes of least resistance, that isin the region 74. If the thrust is in the Y direction (Figure 5), thebending will take place in the axes region 76. Combinations of thrustsincluding X and Y components will cause corresponding bending about axesin the regions 74 and 76 simultaneously. Force applied axially of thecontact 62 and in the down direction is transmitted to the ofisets 66and 68 which yield until the oifset 66 comes to rest upon the shoulder34, the latter being a stop for the contact under these circumstances.Axial thrust in the opposite direction causes the tab to flex in theregion 74 and in the twist 70. Accordingly, the tab acts in the natureof a spring due to its configuration and the inherent resilience of themetal of the tab.

' There is a well 80 formed at the lower end of each passage, and thewells accommodate solder and a pair of the terminal of tabs 64. Inapplying the processed circuitry on the lower surface 28 of the tubebody, it is extended into each well 80. Accordingly, after the contacts62 are located in their passages, they may be soldered in place byhaving a quantity of solder flow into the wells 80. Not only are thecontacts 62 anchored in this manner but also, the contacts areelectrically connected with the long enough so that when the contactsare in processed circuit patterns 53 on the lower surface 28. Thepatterns 53 and 61 are in turn, walls of the edge notches 52, thesewalls having been made conductive by conductive paint or other suitablemeans, whereby external connections to circuitry may be made easily.

In instances where the tubev socket is mounted on a panel, the facilitywith which the contacts are connected to the external circuit ismanifest. Lower surface 28 of the tube body has its patterns 53 and 61on it and these patterns are connected to the external circuit by merelybeing placed thereon and soldered either at the notches 52 or bysweating the solder on the paths 53; and corresponding paths on thepanel. This avoids the difficulty encountered in connecting the tubecontacts to the processed circuitry on an external panel. However, it isto be understood that the illustrated tube socket is complete of itselfand need not be associated with a printed circuit panel. Conventionalwiring may be soldered or otherwise connected with the pattern on thebottom surface 28 of the tube body or may be attached to the walls ofthe notches 52. Moreover, the tab 64 may be place, parts 88 of the tabslie below the bottom surface 28 for accepting wiring in the conventionalway. However, it is noted that if the contact part 88 is anchored, theability ofthe upper part of the contact to yield to thrusts is in no wayimpaired. Such movement is always predictable and is independent of theuse of tab part 88.

In manufacture, the body 10 may be moulded or made by other knownmethods, and then the processed circuitry applied thereto by any knowntechnique such as stencil or screen printing, painting or etching tomention a few. Next, the contacts are either dropped or inserted in thepassages and are soldered in place. The length of contact tab anddimensions of passages will determine where the terminus of each tabwill be with respect to surface 28, that is, below it, flush with it orabove it in which case the terminal part of each tab will be in itspassage.

It is understood that various departures may be made from the socketshown in the drawing from the protection of the claims. Initially, theprinciples involved in the contact configuration and method of fasteningit to the socket body may be practiced with a body other than thatillustrated. Conversely, the features of the socket body are useful inthe absence of the contact configuration claimed herein. Therefore,limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tube socket, a body of rigid insulating material, said bodyhaving an annular series of passages extending through the upper andlower surfaces thereof, tube pin contacts loosely disposed in saidpassages, each contact including a generally tubular pin accommodatingportion and a tab extending therefrom, said tab being generally flat incross section and having a twist therein intermediate its ends toprovide bending axes for Said tubular portion, the lower surface of saidbody having conductors thereon, and means connecting said tab to saidbody and one of the conductors on the lower surface thereof.

2. In a tube socket having apertures to receive tube pins, a contactdisposed in one of said apertures and comprising a metal tubular portionopen at each end, a tab extending from one end of said tubular portionand including a flat section which is connected to said tubular portion,a longitudinally twisted section connected to said flat section, and asubstantially fiat soldering section connected to said twisted sectionand forming the terminus of said tab, said tubular portion, tab and allof its foregoing said sections being longitudinally aligned.

3. The combination of a tube socket body with a tube pin contact, saidbody having a passage to contain said contact and a shoulder in saidpassage intermediate its connected with the without deviating ends, thecontact comprising a tubular pin receiving portion disposed in saidpassage with clearance between its outer surface and said passage toallow said tubular portion to be rocked laterally in said passage, aresilient fiat tab extending longitudinally beyond one end of said pinreceiving portion, said tab having an offset extending toward thecentral longitudinal axis of said portion and a second ofiset extendinggenerally parallel to said axis, a portion of said tab at said oflfsetsbeing seated upon said shoulder thereby providing a fulcrum about whichsaid pin receiving portion may rock and 'a stop for said contact tolimit its longitudinal movement in said passage in one direction, andmeans connected to said tab remote from said offsets securing saidcontact to said socket body.

4. The combination of a tube socket body with a tube pin contact, saidbody having a passage tocontain said contact and a shoulder in saidpassage intermediate its ends, the contact comprising a tubular pinreceiving portion, a resilient fiat tab extending longitudinally beyondone end of said pin receiving portion, said tab having on offsetextending toward the central longitudinal axis of said portion and asecond oifset extending generally parallel to said axis, a portion ofsaid tabs at said offsets being seated upon said shoulder therebyproviding a fulcrum about which said pin receiving portion may rock anda stop for said contact to limit its longitudinal movement in saidpassage in one direction, a longitudinally twisted section in said tabextending from said second offset providing a bending axis for movementof said contact tubular portion in its passage, and means spaced fromsaid twisted section for securing said tab to said socket body.

5. The combination of claim 4 and said socket body having a well locatedat one end of said passage wherein said tab securing means are located.

6. In a tube socket, an insulating body having a passage extendingtherethrough, a shoulder in said passage between its ends, a tube pinreceiving contact disposed in said passage and including a tubularportion with a tab extending therefrom, said tubular portion having adiameter smaller than the portion of said passage which it occupies sothat said portion is capable of lateral motion in said passage, anoffset in said tab adjacent to said tubular portion providing a bendingaxis for said tubular portion in response to deflection of said portionin one direction, a section of said tab having a twist arrangedgenerally perpendicular to said oifset to provide a bending axissubstantially normal to said offset for yielding during motion of saidportion in a direction normal to the said one direction, said offset andsaid twist in said tab combining to form a section which yields inresponse to an axial force applied to said contact, and said shoulderbeing located in the path of travel of a part of said tab near saidoflset thereby constituting a stop for said pin receiving portion whenit is moved in one axial direction.

7. The tube socket of claim 6 wherein the lower surface of saidinsulating body has a well which is in communication with said passage,a circuit pattern on said lower surface and partly in said well, andmeans in said Well for both securing said contact to said body andconnecting said contact tab to said circuit pattern for electricalconduction.

8. In a tube socket body having a plurality of passages therein, a tubepin receiving contact in each passage, each contact including a tubularportion having cross sectional dimensions smaller than the part of thepassage which it occupies so that said portion may be laterallydisplaced in its passage, a tab extending from said tubular portion, anoifset in said tab adjacent to said tubular portion providing a bendingaxis for said tubular portion in response to deflection of said portionin one direction, a section of said tab having a twist arrangedgenerally normal to said offset to provide a bending axis substantiallynormal to said offset for yielding during motion of said portion in adirection perpendicular to the said one direction, and said offset andsaid twist in said tab combining to form a section which yields inresponse to an axial force applied to said tubular portion of thecontact.

9. In a tube socket body a passage, a contact in said passage andcomprising a split tubular member to receive a tube pin insertable fromone end of the passage, a fiat elongated element secured to said memberand extending to the other end of the passage, means to secure saidelement to the body at the said other passage end, respective sectionsof said element formed to lie in mutually perpendicular planes, and aportion of said element adjacent said member bent to lie in a thirdplane normal to the said mutually perpendicular planes whereby saidmember may yield laterally within said passage during insertion of atube pin.

10. In a tube socket assembly a body of insulating material, a pluralityof passages annularly arranged in said body, an assemblage of conductivepaths on the lower surface of the body and terminating at selectedpassages, a contact in each respective passage comprising a splittubular member to receive a tube pin insertable from the upper surfaceof the body, a fiat elongated element secured to said member extendingto the lower end of the passage, means to secure said element to thebody and interconnect with a respective conductive path, respectivesections of said element formed to lie in mutually perpendicular planes,and a portion of said element adjacent said member bent to lie in athird plane normal to the said mutually perpendicular planes wherebysaid member may yield laterally within said passage during insertion ofa tube pin.

11. For use in a tube socket body passage a contact comprising a splittubular member to receive a tube pin insertable from one end of the bodypassage, a flat elongated element extending from said member to theother end of the body passage, respective sections of said elementformed to lie in mutually perpendicular planes, :and a portion of saidelement bent to lie in a third plane normal to the axis of said tubularmember and to said mutually perpendicular planes whereby said contactmay yield laterally within the said passage responsive to thrustincident to tube pin insertion and removal.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,819,835 Campbell Aug. 18, 1931 2,291,001 Smith July 28, 1942 2,294,880Alden Sept. 8, 1942 2,444,048 Keller June 29, 1948 2,569,550 Barton Oct.2, 1951 2,603,681 Salisbury July 15, 1952 2,638,573 Glickman May 12,1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 581,225 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1946

